Tampa Bay @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2013 ) Boston 2, Tampa Bay 1
With a return to Fenway Park and a visit from a team that they have handled with ease this season, the Boston Red Sox hope to get back on track when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. The Red Sox saw their lead in the American League East trimmed to 1 1/2 games after dropping three of four at Baltimore over the weekend, but they've won seven of the nine meetings with Tampa Bay this season.
The Rays have lost four of five to fall five games back of Boston, and their offense has been the culprit recently. Tampa Bay has scored a total of 12 runs in its past five contests. The Red Sox hope to have first baseman Mike Napoli back in the lineup Tuesday after missing the past two games because of dizziness and nausea.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (1-2, 4.80 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Alfredo Aceves (3-1, 5.58)
Archer is set for his fourth big-league start of the year, and he has failed to make it through five innings in two of them. The 24-year-old faced the Red Sox in his last outing June 12 in Tampa Bay and struck out seven while allowing two runs, but he lasted only four innings because of four walks and a high pitch count. Archer is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in two starts against Boston.
Aceves was recalled after a brief stint at Triple-A Pawtucket and will look to pick up where he left off in his last turn with the big club. He recorded two straight quality starts before being sent down, including a win over Tampa Bay his last time out in which he allowed one run on four hits over six innings on June 12. Aceves has made one start and 19 relief appearances against the Rays, going 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox INF Jose Iglesias enters the doubleheader riding a 17-game hitting streak, one shy of the longest in the American League this season set by Alex Rios of the Chicago White Sox.
2. Tampa Bay enters the doubleheader having hit .141 with runners in scoring position in nine games against Boston - including .092 in those situations in seven losses to the Red Sox.
3. Rays OF Matt Joyce is batting .387 with four homers during an eight-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Rays 4